Bell and Howell CEO Leslie Stern Announces He Is Stepping Down

DURHAM, NC—September 30, 2013—Bell and Howell, a leading global provider of multi-channel communications solutions for print, Web and mobile delivery, announced today that Leslie Stern is stepping down as the company’s CEO for personal reasons. The Board of Directors has appointed one of its members, Kamal Advani of controlling shareholder Versa Capital Management, as Interim CEO to serve until a permanent successor is found, a process targeted for conclusion by year-end.

“I’m proud of what the team has accomplished to reestablish the Bell and Howell brand and its reputation for innovative products,” said Stern. “Thanks to our loyal customers, our dedicated workforce, and our industry leading solutions, we are well positioned for continued growth, so after two years of commuting to Durham from my home in New York, I need to spend more time with my family.”

Bell and Howell Chairman Gregory Segall, CEO of Versa Capital, said, “Under Les’s leadership, Bell and Howell has reasserted its position as a leading provider of high-volume mail and document management solutions. The company has made substantial progress since our 2011 acquisition in large measure due to Les’s efforts working with the management team and all Bell and Howell employees worldwide. For his efforts we are extremely grateful and wish Les the very best as he moves on to his next big challenge.”

“In the meantime, Kamal Advani brings a wealth of experience to his interim role and is the right person to lead Bell and Howell during this transition,” continued Segall. “The Board is confident that we will find a talented executive for this highly attractive opportunity to lead a promising company with a strong future.”

Advani has nearly 30 years of finance and operating experience in a variety of industries. He has held senior financial and operating roles at several companies driving growth and value creation.

About Bell and Howell
Bell and Howell is a leading global provider of multi-channel communications solutions, providing messaging technologies for print, Web and mobile delivery. We dedicate ourselves to drive positive growth for our customers and our suite of solutions are designed to be open, flexible, solve unique customer needs, and enable the highest quality and lowest cost production of highly relevant customer communications. Supporting these solutions is one of the largest dedicated service organizations in the industry. Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., the company maintains development and manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, IL, Bethlehem, PA, Rochester, NY, Dallas, and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Source: Bell and Howell.